The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-12-15

cheeks were glowing and her eyes were
bright.
"This is awful" she said to herself
as she heard steps approaching the door
on the inside. A civil-looking woman
opened it.
Are-are the gentlemen at home p
the visitor asked. "I mean-is MIR
Townsend at homef / an his sister, and
he expects me, think"
"Oh, walk in ma'am, il you please
Mr.. Townsend told me you were not com
ing until tomorrow he 10 out Just now
but your room il quite ready. Have you
no luggage, ma'am ?"
The visitor muttered something about
the station as she went into the hall
"Please show me into the sitting-room
she said / can wait for nay brother there
No, thank you; no tea. Is this the
room ?"
Yes, ma'am. The gentlemen has this
between them. Mr.. Hamilton is coming
back unexpected this evening. He was
telegraphed for, as there is some talk Of
the regiment leaving at once.
What is that noises'' the visitor
asked. 4 t
"Rain, ma'an,. It's thunder shower
/ think. 1t always makes that noise on
the roof Of the verander. It's we'll you
was under cover, ma'am."
Rosalind gave a sigh of relief as the
door at last closed behind the landlady
"Now, if by a stroke Of good fortune l
Gun commit my felony and get away be-
fore-my brother comes in-wbat an ex-
traordinary thing that he should be ex.
pecting his sister. suppose (glancing
at cabinet photograph on the chimney
piece) "that is the man himself. Why,
he must be forty at least Now, won
der where Mr.. Geoff keeps his treasures
In drawer, of course but which drawer?
l do not half like rummaging among the
poor mans possessions, but he brought it
on himself"
She presently came upon q packet
neatly tied up with red ribbon and sealed.
She pinched it. 1t evidently contained a
photograph, for she felt the cardboard,
and there was something soft that might
be a glove; and surely those were with
cred flowers that cracked as she pressed
them? and the more lumpy enclosures
must be letters. Should she untie the
ribbon and break the seal! But time
was passing, and there was really no ne
cessity. Then she turned the packet
over and found an inscription that settled
the question. In q mans writing were
the words: "L's. likeness and letters.
Very precious"
"Poor Geoff! Poor dear fellow |!
How devotedly he loves her! 1 am so
sorry for him. 'Very precious " he calls
them," Rosalind murmured. "But pre-
cious or not, l must rob him Of them.
We cannot lose Tom. I wonder what
Lefty will say when she sees them :?
Now, l wish were safely out of this.
must write the tiniest scrap of note and
leave it for poor dear Geofc"
She closed the drawer, put the packet
in her pocket, and wrote hastily on q half
sheet of paper. "L's. sister has taken
what you have no right to keep against
her will"
She had just addressed the envelope
when she heard steps on the stairs; in
another moment the door was opened
and handsome young man came.
"How awkward p thought Rosalind.
"But l must keep up the character of
.Townsend's sister. Who in the world is
hep"
The newcomer stood still and stared at
her. She was the prettiest girl be had
seen for many day. She made him .
little bow. II am Mr.. Townssnd's sis
ter" she said, "and expect him every
moment; he does not expect me until to-
morrow. Did not the landlady tell you
l was here!"
"she-she-she did" the young man
gasped:
"What donkey he is r' thought mer-
ciless Rosalind, quite at her ease, although
she had Just been robbing drawer. aI
wonder if you would mind going to look
for my brother ?" she said aloud in the
sweetest manner. "It would be 80 very
kind. 1t is awkward to be here all alone
with-people coming in" She gave him
little smile to indicate that he was one
of the people. have to 60 to the sta
ton for my luggsge"-(" What dreadful
stories 1 am telling" she added to her,
self J then aloud, and, perhaps, by the
time come back he will be here.'
"Oh, you will come back, will you :?
But it's raining cats and dogs! you'll be
drenched I"
ooh, dear, no! 1 have a waterproof; {"
and Rosalind took up her cloak. "Thank
you," as the young man rushed forward
and put it round her shoulders. "And
you will 60 and 6nd-Gerard for me-"
she said turning to him with the sweetest
smile. There was the slightest possible
hesitation before she said the name he
noticed nothing but the beauty of her
eyes. "Thank you very much -
She was gone before be recovered him.
self, and when Geoff Hamilton came into
the sitting-room at No. Is few minutes
later, he found his friend Townsend hang
ing ont of the window.
"Hello, Gee !" he said what's up =?
You looked dazed Seen ghost ?"
"No, but the prettiest girl in the world.
She was here. She said she was my sis
ter. She asked me to go and look for
myself, while she went to the station
for her luggage"
"Then she'll be back"
"Not she She turned the other way"
"Then who in the world is she, and
what brought her hereY'
81 suspect You know all about that,
you rascal! She's one Of your army of
martyrs, / take it."
"Rubbish +! am the MARTYR! What's